Cuisine of Antananarivo for gourmets. Places for dinner - best restaurants

The national cuisine of Antananarivo is an original combination of African and Malay culinary traditions. Rice remains the main ingredient of the majority of traditional dishes. It is often served with meat, chicken, seafood, vegetables, and cheese. Many food connoisseurs compare local meals with traditional Asian dishes, but there are still some differences in culinary masterpieces of the regions. For example, hot green pepper remains the most typical spice in Antananarivo. It is present in virtually all dishes except, maybe, pastries and desserts. Restaurants usually serve dishes with a variety of sauces, many of which are cooked in accordance with old recipes.

Vegetarians will like food in Antananarivo restaurants as any of them offers a decent variety of salads. Stewed vegetables and various vegetable pies are also incredibly popular. Fans of seafood should not forget to try “ro” salad that is cooked with large shrimps and fresh veggies. Rice and shrimps are also components of another popular salad – anana.

That said, there are many delicious meat dishes as well. As a rule, zebu antelope meat is a typical ingredient there. There are many ways to cook it – the meat is coal-roasted, stewed in tomato juice, smoked or grilled. Meat plate is also a typical dish in Antananarivo. Here it is called ravintoto and is cooked from pork, beef, and zebu meat. Duck liver is a true delicacy that is available only in the most luxurious restaurants. Fans of more simple dishes will like grilled chicken with banana sauce and corn salad with chicken fillet. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Local fruits deserve a separate mention. Even experienced gourmets will be amazed to find such diversity – exotic annona, litchi, mango, date plum, rare types of banana and strawberry, guava, pineapple, coconuts. The choice of exotic fruits is so rich that many tourists forget about other desserts and try to taste as many fruits as they can. By the way, fruits can be served as a dessert or as a garnish to some meat dishes. When it comes to desserts, pies with fruit filling, rice cakes with sweet syrup, and the traditional rice pudding with coconut milk are the most typical in Antananarivo.

Now it’s time to think where to eat this delicious food. Of course, there are many food stalls on streets and markets of Antananarivo, but for an unprepared tourist there is always a risk of poisoning, and spending days in a hotel room is not what travelers want. Therefore, it is better to eat at cafes and restaurants, such as Toko Telo. This small restaurant is located near the Air Madagascar building. It is not hard to find it as there is a blackboard with a list of Malagasy dishes available. For less than US$5, visitors will be able to order a variety of traditional dishes, such as romazava zebu stew and pork ravintoto. All dishes come with a large plate of red or white rice.

Rice occupies a special place in the Malagasy cuisine – locals eat it three times a day regardless of their income level. When you’re thirsty, it’s time to try ranovola or rice water. The recipe of this drink is very simple – water is boiled together with overcooked rice and then cooled. Numerous cafes offer this and many other drinks. The mall near the train station has several charming cafes that are popular with both locals and tourists. Drink a cup of coffee at Café de la Gare – it has a private garden full of greenery that is a perfect spot for relaxation in the busy capital of Madagascar.

Local people tend to go to bed early in Antananarivo, but that doesn’t mean there are no bars suitable for an evening out. Take a taxi and visit La Teinturerie. It’s a bar that also has a private art gallery, a stage, and even a design store. Each Friday, concerts take place at La Teinturerie, but the bar is interesting to visit on other days as well and enjoy signature cocktails that are both delicious and inexpensive.

La Varangue is considered one of the most high-class restaurants in the city. It specializes in classic European and French cuisines. This cozy and relatively small restaurant has a very unusual atmosphere. Its hall resembles some unusual museum that showcases a collection of retro items. The restaurant looks particularly charming thanks to gorgeous furniture made during the colonial period. La Varangue exhibits a collection of petroleum lamps, old watches, and interesting artworks. Guests are welcome to relax in such an unusual setting and enjoy signature dishes with an unforgettable artistic serving. Best French wine will perfectly complement amazing delicacies.

In contrast, KUDeTA restaurant is a stylish and modern establishment with the gorgeous design. Paintings by local masters are the main decoration of the restaurant’s hall. Chefs in KUDeTA are particularly skilled in cooking squid and various fish types. The menu also includes many nutritious meat dishes. A rich choice of chocolate desserts is another advantage of KUDeTA. It is very popular with locals, and the restaurant is almost always crowded on weekends.

The city is not deprived of high-class Italian cuisine restaurants, with Nerone Ristorante Italiano being one of the most famous. It offers dozens of pizza variations, mouthwatering pasta with mushrooms, and many interesting appetizers. Refreshing cocktails or a glass of favorite beer will be a great addition to any meal. The restaurant’s menu includes many vegetable dishes, so vegetarian guests will also not be disappointed in Nerone Ristorante Italiano.

In Antananarivo, there are many attractive cafes that will also please guests with a broad range of signature dishes and original desserts. Patisserie Colbert café is considered one of the best in this category. It is open in the same building with the famous Colbert Hotel. The café offers a simply fantastic selection of all kinds of desserts. Large display windows showcase dozens of cake types with fresh and sugared fruit, doughnuts with scalded cream and other fillings, mousses, and pastries. Besides desserts, this café bakes delicious bread. Patisserie Colbert is popular among both tourists and local people. Visitors will find several varieties of buns and bread that make this charming café a great stop for breakfast.